Neurodiversity in Children From Historically Marginalized Communities

Neurodiversity is a term that describes thinking and interacting with the world differently from "typical" thoughts and interactions as held by societal standards. Neurodiversity often highlights diagnoses, like autism spectrum disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, but may include several other developmental disorders. Primary care pediatricians are naturally tied to neurodiversity, as they are often on the forefront of identifying and evaluating for neurodivergent development. There are significant disparities that exist in diagnosing and managing developmental disorders for children from historically marginalized communities. A delay in diagnosis can hinder outcomes, as critical periods of intervention are best early on. When pediatricians use culturally responsive screening and intervention tools, alleviation of these disparities can occur. Combined with tools to improve early identification, as well as connecting health care to educational systems, pediatricians can contribute positively to the development of children with minoritized backgrounds and to the neurodiversity movement.